Sydney Seaplanes is a domestic and charter carrier in and around

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

and is the largest seaplane operator in Australia, operating hundreds of flights a week during the peak tourist season. Founded in August 2006 with one aircraft, Sydney Seaplanes has grown in direct response to the growing incoming Asian tourist markets and the leisure VIP market.

History

The airline was formed in August 2006 through the merger of Sydney Harbour Seaplanes, Seaplane Safaris, Southern Cross Seaplanes and two other operators. The founder and managing director is Aaron Shaw. In late 2016, a new era of growth for the airline was ushered in with the new harbourside terminal being opened, with the 'Empire Lounge' restaurant/bar inside. In 2017, Sydney Seaplanes partnered with Dr Jerry Schwartz of Schwartz Family Co. to expand the airlines fleet, placing two additional amphibious Cessna Caravan aircraft online. In 2016, the new Rose Bay terminal was opened, 'Empire Lounge' as it is affectionately known as is Australia's first purpose built seaplane terminal. With uninterrupted water views and an outdoor decking area, it is the ushering in of a new era of growth for the airline. It has flown celebrities around when in Sydney, including

Ed Sheeran Edward Christopher Sheeran (; born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently r ...

Top Gear Top Gear may refer to: * "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission Television * ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme * ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the or ...

and

The Grand Tour ''The Grand Tour'' is a British motoring television series, created by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and Andy Wilman, made for Amazon exclusively for its online streaming service Amazon Prime Video, and premiered on 18 Novembe ...

presenters

Jeremy Clarkson Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English broadcaster, journalist, game show host and writer who specialises in Driving, motoring. He is best known for the motoring programmes ''Top Gear (2002 TV series), Top Gear'' an ...

and

James May James Daniel May (born 16 January 1963) is an English television presenter and journalist. He is best known as a co-presenter of the motoring programme ''Top Gear (2002 TV series), Top Gear'' alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond from ...

Cuba Gooding Jr Cuba Mark Gooding Jr. (born January 2, 1968) is an American actor. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Emmy nomination. After his breakthrough role as Tre Styles in ''Boyz n the Hood'' (1991), he appeare ...

Sam Smith Samuel Frederick Smith (born 19 May 1992) is an English singer and songwriter. After rising to prominence in October 2012 by featuring on Disclosure's breakthrough single "Latch", which peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart, they ...

and

Pippa Middleton Philippa Charlotte Matthews (née Middleton; born 6 September 1983) is an English socialite, author and columnist. She is the younger sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales. Born in Reading and raised in Bucklebury, Berkshire, Middleton attende ...

Fleet

The five aircraft fleet of Sydney Seaplanes includes the following aircraft (at August 2019): * 1

de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver The de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engined high-wing propeller-driven short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft developed and manufactured by de Havilland Canada. It has been primarily operated as a bush plane and has been used ...

* - VH-AAM * 3

Cessna 208 Caravan The Cessna 208 Caravan is a utility aircraft produced by Cessna. The project was commenced on November 20, 1981, and the prototype first flew on December 9, 1982. The production model was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA ...

- VH-IOV, VH-SXF, VH-ZWH *Refer below to the incident regarding one of the Sydney Seaplanes owned DHC-2 Beaver. Sydney Seaplanes also has previously indicated plans to grow the fleet with more Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft.

Destinations

Sydney Seaplanes currently operate to a number of destinations on a semi regular basis, they also offer charter services. All flights are from the

Rose Bay Water Airport Rose Bay Water Airport (IATA: RSE) is a water airport located in the Sydney suburb of Rose Bay, New South Wales, Australia. It is eight kilometres from the city centre and is one of two water airports in Sydney, the other being Palm Beach Wat ...

in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. * Palm Beach (Lilypad, Floating Accommodation) * Whale Beach (Jonah's Restaurant) * Cottage Point (Cottage Point Inn) *

Berowra Waters Inn Berowra Waters Inn is a restaurant, owned and run by Head Chef Brian Geraghty, located at Berowra Waters along Berowra Creek (a tributary of the Hawkesbury River), near Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 50 minutes from downtown Sydney, Austra ...

Hawkesbury River The Hawkesbury River, or Hawkesbury-Nepean River, is a river located northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, almost encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney. ...

(Peats Bite) *

Pittwater Pittwater is a semi-mature tide dominated drowned valley estuary, located about north of the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia; being one of the bodies of water that separate greater Metropolitan Sydney from the Ce ...

(Bert's Bar) *

Sydney Harbour Port Jackson, consisting of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour and the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers, is the ria or natural harbour of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The harbour is an inlet of the Tasman Sea (p ...

Scenic, over

Eastern Suburbs Eastern Suburbs may refer to: Places *Eastern Suburbs (Mumbai), India *Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), Australia **Eastern Suburbs railway line, Sydney, Australia Sports clubs ;Association football *Eastern Suburbs AFC, Auckland, New Zealand * Eastern ...

Northern Beaches The Northern Beaches is a region within Northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, near the Pacific coast. This area extends south to the entrance of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), west to Middle Harbour and north to the entra ...

, CBD and return to Rose Bay

Accidents

A major incident occurred on 31 December 2017, involving VH-NOO. The aircraft crashed into Jerusalem Bay off the Hawkesbury River after deviating from its usual flight path. All six people on board were killed in the crash (five passengers including an 11yr old girl and one crew, the pilot). The pilot was returning from Cottage Point Inn to the hub of Rose Bay. The ATSB eventually determined the pilot was incapacitated from Carbon Monoxide poisoning, caused by exhaust gasses entering the cabin through holes in the firewall. The company that maintained the aircraft Airag Aviation Services were found to have left out bolts that secure the magneto access panels to the firewall, creating the pathway.

References

External links

Sydney Seaplanes
{{Airlines of Australia, state=collapsed Airlines of Australia Airlines established in 2006 Australian companies established in 2006 Seaplane operators Rose Bay, New South Wales Regional Aviation Association of Australia